Receptacle for poker chips



July 15, 1941. s. s. KARNS RECEPTACLE FOR POKER CHIPS Filed 001;. '3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In uenior ifiermazzd/farm A iiorneys July 15, 1941. s. s. KARNS RECEPTACLE FOR POKER CHIPS Filed oat. s, 1939' 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v I a i z 4 3" 1' In venior A itomey;

Patented July 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 7 V v I 2,249,005 1 nnoE rAoLE FoR'PoKER onI'Ps Sherman Stewart Karns, San Luis Obisp'o, Calif. 7

Application October 3, 1939, Serial No. 297,753

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in receptacles for poker chips and the like.

The principal object in view is to provide a light-weight, strong and inexpensive receptacle designed to provide either a closed storage device for the chips when not in use, or, a rack for holding the chips during play off the board.

Another object is to provide a rack for a plurality of rows of poker chips arranged to hold the rows at a convenient angle for removal and in a position such that they may be counted readily by touch.-

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawings, accompanying and forming part of the specification.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation,

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Fig. 4 is .a View in horizontal section taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1, looking downwardly as indicated by the arrows,

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation illustrating the manner in which the sections are used as a rack,

Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Fig. '7 is a View of a modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, in the preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, the receptacle of my invention embodies, as its basic elements, a pair of substantially rectangular, complemental rack sections I, 2 each provided in one side face thereof with a plurality, three being shown, of transversely extending troughs 3 of semi-circular form transversely and which are equi-distantly and similarly spaced laterally in each section, open at one end and closed at the other, and of the proper size to seat therein one-half of the usual poker chips 4. Sections I, 2 are pivotally connected together at one end by a pair of strap hinges 5. Secured to said sections by screws '6 so that the sections may, on

a closed container for stacks of the chips 4 in said troughs, or, on the other hand, as. shown in Fig. 6, be swung into opened end to end position, into the same plane, with the open sides of the troughs 3 uppermost to provide a pair of rack sections for holding a plurality of rows of the chips 4 with the upper halves thereof projecting out of the troughs for convenient grasping by the fingers to remove same.

Each section I, 2 is provided with a combination closure member and support I for the open ends of the troughs 3 thereof comprising a strip of suitable material coextensive in length with that of the section and of substantially right angled form in cross section. E'ach closure member I is swingably connected to the face 8 of its section forming the bottom of the troughs 3 and by a pair of strap hinges 9 suitably spaced apart along the sections and secured to the closure member 'I and the section by screws Ill. Preferably, for ornamental purposes and to countersink the hinges 9 in the faces 8 of said sections I, 2, the latter are grooved transversely, as at II, and said hinges 9 secured to said sections, in said grooves. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the closure members I are foldable on the one hand into flush engagement with the sections I, 2 and into opposed flush relation to close the open ends of the troughs 3 and form conjointly a hand grip for carrying the device, or, on the other hand, adapted to be swung beneath the sections l, 2 in the described opened position of the sections, to support the latter in tilted position with the open ends of the troughs 3 elevated so that the chips 4 in said troughs 3 will be held in upright position by the closed ends of the troughs 3 and contact with each other.

To facilitate grasping the members I in their 7 folded position, said members are grooved longitudinally on one side as at I 2.

As indicated in the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 7, the troughs i2 may be provided with corrugated bottoms I4 designed to support the chips I5 in stepped series for further convenience in grasping in removing and to facilitate counting by feel of the chips.

The sections I, 2 and the members I may be made of wood, papier-mach, or any other suitable light weight material of the requisite rigidity.

As will now be seen, the receptacle of my invention may be economically manufactured, is easily opened or closed, in either of such positions thereof provides for quick removal of the chips, supports the chips when used as a rack so that they may be readily and quickly counted by touch, and is other wise well adapted for the purpose for which it was intended.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification in other respects than as disclosed herein and right is herein reserved to such other modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed is:

A holder of the class described comprising a pair of fiat rectangular sections having complemental side faces, means pivotally connecting said sections for folding together to oppose said faces in flush engagement and for unfolding into end to end relation, said sections being provided in said faces with troughs opening at one end onto corresponding side edges of said sections, the pivotal axis of said connection being parallel to the longitudinal axes of the troughs whereby the troughs of said sections mate when the sections are folded to form pockets and whereby the sections are adapted when unfolded to form two side-by-side series of racks, and means to close the open ends of said troughs when the sections are folded comprising a pair of striplike hand grip members pivoted to said side edges of the sections to fold over said edges and close said ends, said members being swingable on said pivots when the sections are unfolded beneath said sections to act as supports for sustaining the sections in inclined positions on a table.

SHERMAN S. KARNS. 

